Tour Description

This two-week itinerary is a great introduction to Italy. You'll visit the mountainous north, with its dramatic scenery and popular lakes, and the picturesque south of the country, with its cliff-side towns. You’ll also be ticking off two of its most popular cities, making this self-guided multi-centre the perfect choice for first-time visitors!

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: UK–Lake Garda

Fly into Verona and transfer to Bardolino, a little town on the shores of Lake Garda. Its lakefront promenade is lined with restaurants and the busy ferry port means Bardolino is a great base for exploring the lake’s pretty towns. We recommend staying at Hotel Caesius Thermae & Spa Resort – it’s set on the lakefront just 15 minutes’ stroll from the town centre.

Day 1: UK–Lake Garda

Points of Interest

Day 2: Lake Garda

On your first full day in Lake Garda, we’d recommend getting out onto the water and exploring the pretty towns that line its edges. In the south, we love the fairy-tale castle and gelato parlours of Sirmione; in the north, stop at Limone, Riva del Garda or Torbole to admire the more dramatic scenery at this end of the lake. Lake Garda is also known for its beautiful botanic gardens; head over to Gardone to visit Heller Gardens and explore the 10,000 square metres of exotic flowers.

Day 2: Lake Garda

Points of Interest

Day 3: Lake Garda

Just north of Lake Garda are the beautiful Dolomites. A full day excursion will take you to the heart of this majestic mountain range, travelling through valleys and past glaciers as you go. If you get a chance, try the apple strudel – it’s something of a speciality here.

Day 3: Lake Garda

Points of Interest

Day 4: Lake Garda

Bardolino is famous for its wine (there’s even a festival devoted to it in the autumn). Visit one of the local vineyards for a tour and tasting, or pre-book our half-day excursion to the beautiful Lagarina Valley, where you’ll visit a winery famous for its fizz.

Day 5: Lake Garda

Points of Interest

Day 6: Lake Garda–Venice

Today, you’ll have a private transfer to take you from the lake to Venice. On arrival, check in to your hotel and then head out to explore. Venice is best seen from the water, so why not pre-book a private gondola ride to take you along its palazzo-lined canals – a great introduction to the city.

Day 6: Lake Garda–Venice

Points of Interest

Day 7: Venice

Get your bearings with a walking tour of the city. In 90 minutes, you’ll be shown around St. Mark’s Square (home to the famous Basilica and Doge’s Palace), along the Mercerie (Venice’s premier shopping street) and around some of the pretty streets of the San Marco district. In the afternoon, take a waterbus along the Grand Canal or perhaps out to one of the islands in the lagoon.

Day 7: Venice

Points of Interest

Day 8: Venice–Rome

Today, you’ll travel from Venice to Rome by train. Italy’s high-speed services are fast and efficient, so you’ll be in the capital in just a few hours. For a fantastic sunset view of the city, venture up to the top of Janiculum Hill. Once the sun goes down, be sure to stop by the Colosseum – you can’t go in at night, but its exterior looks even more impressive when illuminated.

Day 8: Venice–Rome

Points of Interest

Day 9: Rome

Make the most of your time in the Eternal City with our Monuments of Rome tour. It’s a concentrated hit of the city’s highlights – in three hours, you’ll see Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, plus the exterior of St. Peter's Basilica. For the rest of the day, why not slow the pace down and go for a stroll around the leafy Villa Borghese gardens.

Day 9: Rome

Points of Interest

Day 10: Rome–Sorrento

After a train ride to Naples, you’ll jump in a private transfer and head along the coast to beautiful Sorrento. Toast your first evening here with a shot of limoncello – it’s the town’s signature tipple, made from supersized Sorrentine lemons.

Day 10: Rome–Sorrento

Points of Interest

Day 11: Sorrento

Sorrento is an ideal base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. Our Amalfi Drive excursion is a great way to do this – you’ll drive along this scenic stretch of road, stopping to stroll around seaside Amalfi and clifftop Ravello. Positano is another town worth exploring; you can easily get the bus or ferry there from Sorrento.

Day 11: Sorrento

Points of Interest

Day 12: Sorrento

The island of Capri is easily reached by hydrofoil, and makes another great day-trip option. You could also experience it in the evening with our Capri Day & Night tour – the island feels like a completely different place once the daytime crowds have emptied out.

Day 12: Sorrento

Points of Interest

Day 13: Sorrento

There are plenty of things to keep you busy today. You could spend some time touring the well-preserved ruins of Pompeii, head to Naples to sample ‘proper’ pizza, or do a spot of shopping in the old town.

Recommended hotels in Sorrento

Flight Information

The closest airport to Lake Garda is Verona (VRN). Direct flights to Verona are available from Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton and take approximately 2 hours.

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